Does the Ash'aris and the Kullabis' saying that the Quran is created, and that letters and sounds are created, and that Allah has an inner speech (khatir), bring them into the fold of the Jahmiyyah?

The Ash'aris believe that the meanings of the Qur'an are uncreated (ancient inner speech - kalam nafsi qadim), while its الفاظ (alfaz - wordings) are created. The saying of Lady Aisha, "What is between the two covers of the Mus'haf is the word of Allah," is understood to refer to the wording. According to them, it is not permissible to say that the Qur'an is created, except in the context of teaching, for fear that it might imply that the ancient meaning is created. The Ash'aris believe that in the ancient meaning, commands and prohibitions are equal, and it is a single meaning indicated by expression, writing, and sign. So, if it is expressed in Arabic, it is the Qur'an; if in Syriac, it is the Gospel; and if in Hebrew, it is the Torah.

The Ash'aris differ from the Jahmiyya, who say that the Qur'an is created without distinguishing between meaning and wording. Ibn Taymiyyah says that the Ash'aris are better than the Mu'tazilah in their saying that the speaker is one in whom the speech subsists. However, the Mu'tazilah are better in that they called the Qur'an, which Jibreel brought down, the word of Allah, while the Ash'aris consider it figurative speech, a narration, or an expression of the word of Allah.

The Ash'aris who hold this view are either learned imams who engaged in ta'wil (interpretation) or ignorant followers, and both are excused. This is because a Muslim who strives to seek the truth, if he errs, Allah forgives him. And a statement whose utterer is considered to be a disbeliever may not lead to the excommunication of a specific person until the evidence is established against him and it is made clear to him.